Updating countertops: Do you prefer stone, wood or glass?

When it comes to kitchens, countertops and cabinets probably tie in the race for impact. Both involve large expanses of color and texture, giving the room its personality.

But countertops definitely win the race when it comes to ease of replacement.

If you are looking for an easy way to update the look of your existing kitchen, consider replacing your countertops before you undertake ripping out and replacing cabinetry.

Whether sleek and modern or rustic and warm, countertops anchor a kitchen, provide work space and increase the overall value of a home, according to Matt Lederer, president of Mahogany Builders, based in Bannockburn and Chicago.

"The truth is, when a house gets to a certain price point, people just expect them to have granite or marble countertops at the least," Lederer said. "In the seven years I have been in business, I have only put Formica countertops in one house. They just aren't acceptable in any house other than a rental these days."

"For awhile there I thought that Corian was going to make a comeback, but then it just petered out and granite came back strong," he said. "And I don't see anything in the future that is going to slow granite down.

"It comes in all different price points, depending on how exotic the granite or marble is and where in the world it comes from. So that is appealing to people, too," Lederer said. "They can get relatively inexpensive granite or wildly expensive granite, but it is all granite."

The fact that people see granite and marble as upscale, natural and very durable also make them desirable, he said.

However, granite is not the end of the story when it comes to countertops. There are still lots of options to give your renovated kitchen extra personality and value.

Some homeowners are turning to natural stone materials other than granite and marble for their upscale kitchens.

Soapstone, which is often used for sculptures, is one choice. However, this is a much softer and more porous stone than granite, so it needs to be sealed much more often, Lederer said.

Slate is another option for areas that do not see heavy use, like powder rooms and kitchen backsplashes. It scratches much easier than granite, hence the caution.

Honed granite is also being seen in place of polished granite. This has more of a matte finish and offers a nice contrast when people want to use two different surfaces for their countertops, Lederer said. Once again, however, this needs to be cleaned and oiled frequently because it shows streaks and smudges. It is definitely not a good material for a household with children, he said.

Man-made stone materials that have the feel of natural stone are also becoming popular. They come in a variety of colors that aren't found in natural stone, and are usually maintenance-free. But they are not impervious to heat and they don't have the rich and attractive graining that you find in natural stone.

"Silestone is one example of a man-made stone used in countertops and quartzite is another," Lederer said. "Both are made of a combination of crushed natural stone and epoxy. They are very homogeneous without the personality of natural stone, so many people consider them to be too perfect."

Corian is the original solid surface, made of natural minerals and acrylic. It has been around since Dupont invented it in the 1960s and remains popular but has the same drawbacks as silestone and quartzite with regard to heat and a homogeneous look.

Butcher block wood countertops are also making a comeback in kitchens, particularly as accent tops on islands, according to Lederer. Homeowners like to see them in the same kitchen as marble or granite countertops.

"Wood countertops are still a very small sector of the market and 95 percent of that small sector involves oak butcher block. But a few people are using black walnut and other types of wood butcher blocks, as well," he explained.

"When you consider that wood is naturally resistant to bacteria, warmer than natural stone and available in many different wood species, construction styles and edges, it becomes as appealing as natural stone, said Pawel Witkowski, lead designer at Spaces and Views in Chicago.

Eco-friendly materials like stainless steel and recycled glass are also gaining in popularity, particularly in urban and very contemporary kitchens.

"The recycled glass countertops are quite expensive but very beautiful with very interesting colors possible," Lederer said. "We purchase them locally from Holland Glass and Art in Chicago."

As for the stainless steel countertops, he said that they have only installed them in some city lofts with the exposed brick and timbers look and that they have a very industrial feel. These also scratch very easily, he added.

More popular with the green movement proponents, Lederer said, are poured concrete countertops that look outstanding if they are poured and sealed correctly. These are also quite expensive if they are professionally installed.

A mixture of two or more of these materials in a contrasting kitchen is also becoming very popular, Lederer stated.

"It is like painting one wall a contrasting color," he explained. "Contrasting countertops can really set off a space but you need to have a bigger kitchen in order to get the right effect. If your kitchen is too small, it would be like having one little splotch."

In one case, he installed an onyx countertop in the bar area and a more utilitarian granite countertop in the cooking area. In another home he mixed a dark honed granite island in with light granite perimeter countertops.

Lederer said he sees this as a good way to break up a large space and prevent it from becoming boring.

Despite the many choices available to kitchen renovators and homeowners, the consistently popular choices in the Chicago area, Lederer said, are granite and marble, followed by synthetic stone materials like silestone and quartzite, with Corian coming in third.

"At Mahogany we completely remodel between 50 and 60 kitchens and bathrooms each year, and when most people choose countertops, the choice comes down to style, functionality, durability and maintenance," Lederer stated.

For more information, call Mahogany Builders at (773) 755-0055 or visit mahoganybuilders.com.